When the Zaghawa (people of Kanem) arrived in the area around Lake Chad, they found independent walled-cities states from the Sao civilization, a civilization which had flourished around the 6th century, with its center around the Chari river, south of Lake Chad. The Zaghawa adopted some of the Sao customs, but fight among the two lasted from the 7th century until the 16th. The conquest of Kanem by the Zaghawa was done under the Duguwa dynasty which was started by King Sef (also known as Saif… some people eager to change African history state that the Zaghawa were from Yemen… but we all know that they were local people) about 700 CE. The dynasty, Sayfawa or Sefuwa, is named for King Dugu, one of Sef’s sons, who was ruling about 785 CE. Abandoning their nomadic lifestyle, the Zaghawa established a capital at N’Jimi (meaning “south” — the location of this town is still unknown, but it is believed to be around Lake Fitri). Under the rule of Dugu, Kanem expanded to become an empire. The Zaghawa kings, called maï, were regarded as divine and belonged to a ruling establishment known as the Magumi. They were recognized for a great amount of horses. Kanem’s expansion peaked during the reign of Maï Dunama Dabbalemi (ca. 1221-59) and extended northward into the Fezzan region (Libya), westward into Kano (Nigeria), eastward to Ouaddaï (or Wadai), and southward into the Adamawa grasslands (Cameroon). They converted to islam around the 11th century CE.
By the end of the 14th century, internal struggles and external attacks had torn Kanem apart. Between 1376 and 1400, six Maïs reigned, but were killed by foreign invaders. Finally, around 1396 the Bulala invaders forced the once strong Sayfawa dynasty to abandon Njimi and move to Bornu on the western edge of Lake Chad. Around 1472, Maï Ali Dunamami fortified the Bornu state, and established the capital at Ngazargamu, which had more fertile lands. Over time the inter-marriage between the Kanembu and the Borno people created a new people, the Kanembu, and a language called Kanuri.
The Kanem-Bornu empire peaked during the reign of Maï Idris Alooma (ca. 1571 – 1603) who is remembered for his great military and diplomatic skills. His main adversaries were the Hausa to the west, the Tuareg and Toubou to the north, and the Bulala to the east. One epic poem tells of his victories in 330 wars, and over 1,000 battles. He was a true military genius, and some of his innovations included the use of fixed military camps (with walls), permanent sieges, and “scorched earth” tactics, armored horses and riders, the use of Berber camels, of skilled Kotoko boatmen, and of iron-helmeted musketeers trained by Turkish military advisers. He had very strong diplomatic ties with Tripoli, Egypt, and the Ottoman empire, which at some point sent a 200-member ambassadorial party across the desert to Alooma’s court in Ngazargamu. The state revenues came from tribute from vassal states, trans-saharan trade route, and slave trade. Many products such as cotton, natron (sodium carbonate), kola nuts, ivory, ostrich feathers, perfume, was, and hides were exported north via the Sahara desert.
By the end of the 17th century, the empire started declining, and by the 18th century, it only extended westward into the land of the Hausa. By the early 19th century, the declining empire could not sustain the advance from the fulani warriors of Usman Dan Fodio who proclaimed the jihad war against the non-muslims.
To learn more about the Kanem-Bornu empire, check out: Jamtan.com, Daily Kos- Ancient Africa, BlackPast.org, The empire by the lake. Don’t forget to check out the book “Kanem-Borno: One Thousand Years of Splendor (Kingdoms of Africa)” by Philip Koslow. Back in those days, Lake Chad covered an area of about 10,000 m2… today it has sadly shrunk down to 1,300 m2, and is still shrinking! I could not find a really good map of the Kanem or Kanem-Bornu empire, so I used Google maps and known maps from history books to make my own with some of the boundaries cited earlier. I have overlaid the Kanem and the Kanem-Bornu empires on the same map to give a better idea. Enjoy!
African Heritage 
I am learning more and more of my Bloodline and its connections with Ourstory of Alkebula (Africa).
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This article was quite interesting. I took an Ancient Black History class and we discussed “some” of the dynasties. This is history that should be taught in early education. It’s so important for all African-Americans – young and old – to understand our ancient history, great warriors, and how we came to be who we are today.
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Dear Diana,
I totally agree with you. This history should be taught in all classes for all Africans, and all people of African descent. It is a pity that we do not all know our history, but we can ‘know’ it now, and make sure all our children know where they come from, and hold their head up high. Thank you for visiting the blog, and please refer others… we have to share and spread the knowledge around to as many as possible.
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THE STRUCTURE OF AFRICA TODAY IS NOT SET UP THE WAY OUR FORE FATHERS IN THE ANCIENT DAYS HAT WANTED IT TO BE. COLONIALISM HAS DEVIATED US ALMOST COMPLETELY FROM OUR ROOTS OF ORIGIN.THAT IS WHY WE (AFRICANS AND AFRICAN~AMERICANS) NEED TO STUDY THIS HISTORY SO AS TO KNOW OUR ORIGINS.
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Thanks for this info. Kanem-Bornu is one of my favorite civilizations, and I’m always eager to learn more.
It’s nice that you’re putting up all this info on African civilizations so people can learn.
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Thanks Sean. I am so glad you found the blog helpful.
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Thank you for sharing..This is information that we as Africans need to know.Peace.
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Hello there! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established
blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog?
I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not
sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions?
Many thanks
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Hello My Dear;
It is very kind of you to give us our History kanem-Bornu or kanuri history. thank you 4 all these job done and we are waiting more again
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I’m the member of El-kanemi
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Nice history! I am Zaghawa I love my Mom Africa
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Nice to meet a Zaghawa person… it is indeed fun to learn about how great our history was/is. Thanks for visiting and commenting.
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Am very much excited to came across this article and to know more about my ancestory so as to shade more lights when giving history of my origin to my friends and well wisher’s who are willing to know more about “KANEM-BORNO” empire. Am came out from the Kanem empire and am “KANURI” by tribe. Thanke all.
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I am so glad this could be helpful to you Babagana. indeed the Kanem-Bornu was a great African empire, and every African child should know about it.
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This was a great read. I’ll definitely read up more about this empire.
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Correction: the ruling dynasty and the people who established the Kanim empire are the Kanembu tripe not the Zaghawa, thanks for your effort.
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